Using a lightweight motorcycle engine in a
four-wheel racing chassis is a good way to keep costs down and produce lots of
horsepower, and the Griiip G1 single-seater does just that with a 1,000 cc
Aprilia 65-degree V-four. Racing in the Formula X Italian single-seater race
series, the Griiip G1 won its debut race.
The Formula X Italian is a race series for
single-seaters using a tubular frame and motorcycle engine, to aid keeping
costs down and allowing for entry-level racing. Mounted longitudinally, the
Aprilia V-four drives a Cardan shaft with a differential.
Driven by Yarin Stern (21), the Griiip G1 began the
race in pole position, at the Riccardo Paletti circuit near Varano de’ Melegari
in Parma, Italy. A bad start saw Stern relegated to tenth place, but the
Israeli driver fought back to take the G1’s inaugural win with a pass on the
final lap.
Together with Griiip, Aprilia Racing intends to
continue developing this particular application of its V-four, bringing it up
to World Superbike (WSBK) specifications in order to increase the G1’s overall
performance. Electronics upgrades are planned for the car’s hardware and
software, to adapt it to four-wheeled racing use.
